The Citizen asked the Green, Liberal, NDP and Progressive Conservative candidates from each Ottawa riding to write a short essay about why they’re running for the job — and why voters should choose them on June 12. Here are the candidates who responded for Ottawa-Orléans.

Prosper M’Bemba-Meka

PROSPER M’BEMBA-MEKA, NDP

After a decade of Liberal waste and scandal families are falling behind – paycheques haven’t increased but life keeps getting more expensive.

We’re facing this election because the Liberals failed to keep their promises.

This community needs transit investment; affordable child care; job creation; and health care investment. It’s time for a government that stands up for Ottawa – Orléans.

An NDP government will open 25 new 24-hour health clinics and hire 250 nurse practitioners to ease the burden on ERs.

We will provide dedicated transit funding, investing up to $600 million to support construction of the Confederation Line. As well our $100 million affordable child care investment will provide relief to working families.

The NDP’s solutions invest in Ontario’s families – not scandal and waste.

Marie-France Lalonde

MARIE-FRANCE LALONDE, LIBERAL

I don’t wish to tell any constituent why they “should” choose me. I hope to earn their vote. And I hope to earn it because I have a track record of getting the job done and bringing people together. I built a business from the ground up in our community that has employed hundreds of people.

I understand how business development works, I have relationships with the business community and I know what’s needed to attract new business and commerce to our community.

I also bring my people and leadership skills to the job.

I want to see our community unite together to get the big things done like growing our local economy, cleaning up the Ottawa River and Petrie Island, funding Light Rail to Orléans and getting shovels in the ground to build the Orléans Health Hub.

All of these things take a cooperative, experienced and steady hand, and I am offering myself to the constituents of Ottawa-Orléans.

Andrew ListerPAT McGRATH /
POSTMEDIA

ANDREW LISTER , PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

This election, the choice in Ottawa-Orléans could not be clearer.

On one hand, we have a party that believes that spending more of our hard-earned tax money on failed programs in addition to borrowing ever more money each year with absolutely no plan to balance the budget is the right answer for the province.

On the other hand, the Ontario PC Party has a clear, bold and affordable plan to get Ontario working better, eliminate the deficit and concentrate on core government services such as health care, education and seniors.

I ran in 2011 because I was tired of the countless broken and costly promises that have prevented Ottawa-Orleans from reaching its full potential. I am running again in this election because I do not want to see our children and grandchildren take on the crushing burden of increased debt and unemployment simply because Ontario has been so badly mismanaged. Going door to door over the last two-years, I have heard the concerns of all residents of Ottawa-Orleans: soaring hydro rates, the need to fix Highway 174, record levels of debt and a desire for honest government.

As your MPP, I will focus on making government more affordable and on results that will create better services and jobs for Ontarians today and in the future.

Bob Bell

BOB BELL, GREEN

If the people of Ottawa-Orleans are as tired of political games, power plays, and make-believe promises as I am, they should vote Green in the upcoming election. If you vote for one of the three traditional parties, you¹ll get an MPP who is a loyal foot soldier for their party and will choose their party brand over local concerns every day of the week. If you vote for me you¹ll get a candidate who always puts the riding first, and will work tirelessly at Queen¹s Park to ensure your voice is heard. We need to breathe new life into politics in Ontario, return the focus to voter concerns, and stop bickering over ideology. Voters in Orleans have the opportunity to lead the way for a new era in Ontario politics and I would be proud to represent you as your MPP.

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